Becoming a sheephearder!

[Guest]

I was just wondering what kind of impact do fish such as carp, sheepshead, etc. have on the gamefish population? It seems that come warm weather of July- August I become a “sheephearder” on some of the southern MN lakes. My son & I went out to lake Mazaska near Faribault yesterday and we caught 8 to 10 sheepshead in about 3 hours of fishing. I have had similar experiences on lake Tetonka and even in the Mississippi backwaters. Do these things just take over these lakes during the dawg days or what?

[Ridgerunner]

I have had the same problem on Tetonka the first three weekends in July. Although they are fighters I think they have become a nuisance. I believe I read once that MN DNR does not want rough fish returned to the water. Can anyone confirm this?

[Tyler Holm]

I cannot confirm, but it does say that you can spear these types of fish (pg 66 of the 2005 fishing handbook). It also says "dead rough fish may not be returned to the water or left on

the ice or banks of any lake or stream." I agree with that statement totally. Nobody likes to fish the shores with dead stinky fish, flies, maggots, etc. I don't exactly know the law here, but please don't just litter dead fish.

[Dan Thiem]

I agree Tyler, there is always a sheepie or sucker along the shore spots I like to fish along the Zumbro. Stink!

But those sheepies can make the day sometimes when nothing else wil bite. There is some big ones on Pepin too!